Nottingham Forest’s hopes of securing a triple deal with Brazilian side Botafogo appear to have hit a snag.
Striker Igor Jesus has already confirmed he is set to move to the City Ground - if all goes to plan - after the Club World Cup. The Reds have also had their eyes on his teammates Jair Cunha and Cuiabano.
However, Botafogo owner John Textor has been quoted by Brazilian media saying only Jesus and Jair are currently on course to link up with Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad. Brighton and Hove Albion are said to have hopes of gatecrashing any Forest swoop for Cuiabano.
According to Brazilian publication Terra, speaking before Botafogo’s opening Club World Cup game, Textor said: "Only two players are involved in the negotiations with Nottingham Forest. There are a lot of rumours about Cuiabano... They (Forest) like him, they want him, but it's just those two players (Jair and Jesus) for now. That's what I said years ago when I sold Jeffinho to Lyon, we have to be champions for the players before we can be champions for the fans.
"It was an unpopular decision at the time, but if we prove year after year that Botafogo will be good for his career, we will get more and more players. Our goal is to be in the top three (in Brazil) every year and win titles eventually. We have done a great job in bringing players, we reversed the order (for Europe). It is a champion model.”
Terra claim “there has been a change of plans” regarding full-back Cuiabano. It is said that “for now” the intention is he will remain with Botafogo for the remainder of the season.
Jair and Jesus scored their team’s goals as they beat Seattle Sounders 2-1 on Sunday. The former was coy when asked afterwards about a potential switch to Forest, however.
"I'm focused on Botafogo and the World Cup. I'll leave this matter of my future to my agents. I'm focused here and I hope to continue contributing," the centre-back told ESPN.
Jesus, however, has been open about his impending move to the Reds. He had already discussed his expected switch to Forest prior to Botafogo kicking off their Club World Cup campaign, and he spoke about his situation again post-match.
“I think this is part of our career,” he told FogaoNet. “Regardless of anything, we have to keep moving forward in our lives.
“We know it’s not easy to leave a place you love, but unfortunately football is like that. I’ll miss it, but this is the world I live in and I have to move on.”
According to BolaVIP, Botafogo will receive a “significant financial return” for Jair and Jesus. Previous reports had put the potential combined fee for the duo and Cuiabano in the region of €34-40 million (£29-33m).
BolaVIP add “for now” only Jesus has a “confirmed transfer” to the Reds but Jair is “on track” to join his teammate at the City Ground. The situation of Cuiabanao is “undefined” as things stand.
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